The last hunt.
There comes a time in an old hunter’s life when he starts wondering, ‘Was that my last hunt?” Now to many people that may seem to be a trivial question, unimportant, but to a long time hunter it’s a very real question, recognized if only in the back of his mind.
As the days seem to start and end in what seems like a moment, even when less has gotten done throughout the day, it becomes evident that age has finally caught up with the old hunter. Memories of hunts that were once forgotten now are brought back, almost in color, memories beyond hunting camps and socialization with other hunters. The memories of the “little things” appear from out of nowhere and bring joy to the old hunter’s thoughts, almost reliving them at the instant.
Long past are the days of bog trotting through a wet marsh. Those who have never been there can never understand and realize its beauty, the solitude and also its dangers. The old man can smell the damp marsh grass and the muck again. Gone are the days of moving from marsh bog to bog, in the attempt to get further into the marsh to that higher ground which may be his quarry’s sanctuary. More often it ended with a lot of work and boots filled with water and muck. Looking back now, it was never really work. It was an adventure.
Little things that never seemed to matter that much, are now realized from places long stored away. It could be some small detail associated with your first hunt, even more than the result of the hunt itself. It could be of a hunt and conversation with a friend or relative, gone to soon. Somehow I don’t believe these memories were ever forgotten, but rather stored away for a day they would be much more appreciable.
I imagine the old hunter will never know when he will make his last hunt, until that day’s over. Will someone be kind enough or loving enough to take the old hunter out for the last time or, will he be alone? I believe those questions have yet to have an answer available. But in his mind, the old hunter always wonders, when will that last day come?
GP